What is ringworm?
Ringworm is a common name given to a fungal infection in these superficial layers of the skin and hair, nails. The name comes from the classic appearance of a round, red, raised ring that marks the edge of the inflamed flame. The common name of the ringworm is somewhat misleading. Organisms that cause ankle infections belong to a particular group of fungi, called dermatophytes, so the medical name for this disease is dermatophytosis. A species of dermatophytes known as Microsporum canis is responsible for every ringworm infection. This species also breeds in dogs and humans. Sometimes ankle infections in cats are caused by species such as Trichophyton mentagrophyte. The species is also zoological, which means it can infect humans as well.
What does a ringworm look like?
Identifying ringworm in cats can be challenging as the worm’s wounds are very mild or undetectable. Ringworm fungi feed on keratin, which is found in the outer layers of the skin, hair, and nails. The cigarette ash telephone scale at the depth of the coat may be the only visible indicator of ringworm infection in cats. Some cats may have rounded spots on the skin, including hair loss. Hair loss (alopecia) is caused by spores that infect the hair shaft, thereby increasing the instability of the infected hair.
In cats, the main points for this skin on the head, chest, forehead, and back along the ridge. These wounds usually do not cause itching. Sometimes nail infections called onychomycosis can occur. The nails become coarse, hollow, and the base of the scales develop, eventually becoming distorted. Ringworm can sometimes cause a more generalized disease, which affects a large area of the body, often causing hair loss.
particularly those with long hair can develop worms without clinical signs or loss of hair. These cats are called asymmetric carriers. These cats may be infected with other animals or humans, especially in tents or in multiple-cat environments, without the knowledge that caregivers are infected.
How is the ringworm transmitted?
Ringworm is infected and transmitted by contact with fungi. It can be passed by contact with an infected animal or person, or by handling contaminated objects or by touching a contaminated surface.
Fungal spores on combs, brushes, bowls, furniture, bedding, carpets, or other environmental surfaces can remain inactive for months.
Contact with ringworm fungi does not always cause infection. Unless there is scratchy skin breakage, healthy older men are usually resistant to infections. Adults, young children, and adults with immune system weakness or skin sensitivity are particularly susceptible to ringworm infections. If your child has ringworm, they have received it from your pet or another schoolmate. If you or a family member have suspicious skin lesions, see your family doctor immediately.
How long does it take to sustain injuries?
The incubation period is usually seven to fourteen days between ringworm fungus exposure and ankle injury. Sometimes the signs of infection can take up to 21 days.
How to detect ringworm infection?
M. However, not all fluorescence fluctuates, and some dermatophytes do not fluoresce under a wood lamp. An additional diagnosis may be needed to confirm the presence of ringworms. Some cosmetics and other substances are also fluorescent and can give a false-positive result.
The most accurate method of detecting ringworm in cats is a fungal culture in a laboratory. For this purpose, hair and skin scratch samples are obtained. A positive culture can sometimes be confirmed in a few days, but in some cases, the growth of fungal spores can be slowed down, and cultural results can take up to four weeks, which means that a suspicious case cannot be called negative for at least a month…
There are many causes of cat hair loss. Before diagnosing the ringworm, your veterinarian may recommend additional tests to rule out some of these causes.
How is the ringworm treated?
Although ringworm is a self-limiting infection in most cats, discharge is usually three to five months, treating the disease is always necessary to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to people, especially children, and other pets.
The most common method of treating ringworm in cats is to use title therapy (cream, ointment or shampoo) and systemic oral therapy (oral administration of oral antifungal drugs). For the treatment to be successful, all environmental pollution must be eliminated.
- Topic Therapy
cat_bathOccasionally, the topic worm alone is used to treat the worm, but it is most commonly used in combination with oral action. There are various creams and ointments to apply to localized areas of the skin affected by the ringworm.
If you have a more common disease, or your cat has long hair, your veterinarian may recommend cutting off your cat’s hair and bathe your cat with shampoo at least twice a week. It is very important to use only preparations that are specifically provided or recommended by your veterinarian. Topic treatment usually lasts from a few weeks to several months.
- Oral treatment
Individual cats’ response to treatment varies, and if the therapy is stopped too soon, the disease may recur. Generally, treatment lasts at least six weeks and in some cases requires longer treatment. Ankle cultures are taken from time to time after treatment to determine if your pet is still infected.
Do not discontinue treatment unless your veterinarian has given you this recommendation. Stopping treatment early can lead to fungal recurrence.
Treatment continues until two negative ankle cultures are obtained.
If there is more than one pet at home, treat the infected by separating the infected from the non-infected. Sometimes it is best to treat all your pets.
- Environmental Cleansing
Infected hair contains a number of microscopic fungal spores that can be poured into the environment. Contact with an infected cat or contact with fungal spores in a contaminated environment can infect other animals and humans. In addition to minimizing contact with an infected cat, it is also important to keep the environment as free of spores as possible.
Haircutting (hair removal carefully) in combination with antiseptic treatment on the affected areas of the skin can help reduce environmental pollution. It is important to remove from floors or furniture as pet hair can be contaminated with fungal spores.
It is also worth restricting the rooms to the house where the cat is easy to clean. Wetting or vacuuming all rooms or areas that your cat has access to can reduce environmental pollution; This should be done daily.
Fungal spores can be killed by diluting chlorine bleach (500 ml) with a gallon of water (4 liters) or by diluting 1:10 to 1: 100. It is practical to use.
In multiple animal shelters, such as tents or tents, treating the rings worm can be extremely challenging and costly, and environmental pollution can be difficult to control.
How long will my cat breed?
Infected pets can breed for about three weeks if aggressive treatment is used. If minimal action is taken or you are not sure of the approach, the ringworm will last longer and last longer. It is recommended to minimize exposure to other dogs or cats and your family during this time.
Two persistent negative fungal cultures indicate that treating your cat successfully.
Will my cat recover from the ringworm?
The vast majority of cats recover from an ankle infection if properly treated. The appearance of the lesion may not change much during the first week of treatment, but some improvement may occur within two to three weeks. Symptoms may recur if treatment is discontinued early or is not aggressive enough (ie, only the title therapy was used), or if the pet has an underlying disease that affects the immune system. Sometimes the infection persists despite appropriate treatment, and in this case, your veterinarian may need to try alternative fungicides.
What is the risk to people?
Ringworm can be easily transmitted to humans, especially children, and it is important to take appropriate measures to reduce fungal exposure when treating cats. Ringworm is more likely to be transmitted and causes clinical signs in people with a depressed immune system.
Anyone in the home should seek medical attention if they have skin lesions, especially if the skin is reddened with thickening and high scales. However, the ringworm can remain infected for up to 18 months in the fungal environment and re-infection.
